It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a year since last we saw men around the island sporting the kind of moustaches (or ‘MOs’) usually reserved for Yosemite Sam.
When the clock strikes midnight on 31 Oct., we’ll wave goodbye to Halloween and officially welcome the month of Movember, when upper-lip hair is teased, groomed, shaped and coddled, all in the name of a good cause.
What started in Australia in 2003 as an initiative to raise awareness of, and money for, prostate and testicular cancers, began to spread around the world soon after. Millions of dollars have been raised since then, with everything from handlebar and pencil styles to the horseshoe and notoriously-thick walrus design popping up on faces in such far-flung locales as Hong Kong, Sweden, Singapore and the Czech Republic. Canada and the US are big contributors to the movement as well.
The Cayman Islands was actually one of the earliest countries to get on board, thanks to Tim Rossiter, who transplanted to the islands from Down Under. He, and a small group of enthusiastic volunteers, got it going here in 2005, with more people signing up every year.
Those already familiar with Movember in Cayman will recognise the titles of its many events. However, they may not realise that there are some entertaining additions to Movember 2021, giving participants even more chances to raise money while looking their hairy best.
So the ladies aren’t left out of the proceedings, they can sign up to be MO Sistas, supporting the MO Bros in their quest for greatness.
Now is the time to start sketching out your plan. Will you just grow a MO or shave your hair into a mohawk as well? How will you get sponsors to support you and put their money where your MO is? Have you got what it takes to be crowned Man of Movember?
Here is the main schedule of events on the calendar:
Monday, 1 Nov.
MOpening Night Shave-Off
Fidel Murphy’s: 6-8pm
It all starts here. Sign up to become a MO Bro, then pick up your exclusive T-shirt announcing your commitment to the cause. Nervous Neds can enjoy a complimentary Ketel One cocktail or Heineken beer if they need a bit of extra Dutch courage to give them a push.
A nice, clean shave starts all contestants off on equal footing, thanks to The Barbershop at Studio54 West. That can be limited to just the face, unless dear friends bid for their buddies to also get a mohawk in the very first MO-Hawktion. Men, eh?
Games and entertainment will keep everyone distracted while they get shorn like sheep.
Monday, 8 Nov.
MO Bro Balls of Fury
KARoo: 6pm
Dare we delve into what this tournament is all about? The Bartender Royale competition has been running for months now, with its finale to be held at KARoo on 8 Nov. In order to support Cayman’s Movember, it is allowing MO Bros to step up and show their bartending chops in speed rounds titled ‘MO Bro Balls of Fury’, where opening Heineken bottles like The Flash and making espresso martinis so quickly, you’d think they’d been ingesting pints of the stuff, is the name of the game. Food specials will probably include meatball subs. Two meatballs per sub. We’ll leave it there.
Thursday, 18 Nov.
Movember Info Night
The Lions Centre: 7pm
In a way, this is one of the most important nights in Movember. Sponsored by Doctors Hospital, it offers presentations, Q&A sessions and free prostate-specific antigen screenings for attendees. The whole reason Movember was started was to try and highlight the importance of men’s physical and mental health, including removing the social stigma around male depression. The Info Night is designed to help men become better equipped to deal with issues, and learn the importance of regularly being tested for cancers.
Friday, 19 Nov.
The MOpen Championship
North Sound Golf Club: Noon
Dimpled, bald spheres meet hairy MOs on the golf course for this four-ball scramble event which always sells out. Get a team together that will hopefully end up celebrating at the 19th hole; just don’t forget the sunscreen. It’ll be a hot one out there at midday, and a crispy MO is a sad sight to behold.
Saturday, 20 Nov.
Must-Dash 5K
Seven Mile Public Beach: 5pm
Mercifully, not a crack-of-dawn dash, this 5K is a new addition to the Movember calendar. The course has a bit of a… testosterone twist to it. To say more would be giving the game away; we simply recommend you walk, jog or run with a tracking device that can map out your route. All will be revealed at the end. Spot prizes will be up for grabs with complimentary beverages once you hit the finish line.
Sunday, 21 Nov.
Movember Touch Rugby
CIS pitch: 10am
MO Bros and Sistas can sign up for a co-ed game of touch rugby on the pitch of the Cayman International School. It should be a spirited match, and the last major event before the final night. Therefore, any grabbing of the MOs in play is strictly verboten.
Tuesday, 30 Nov.
The Closing CereMOny
The Bird: 7pm
Everything has been leading up to this moment. Sprouts have flourished into MOs to be proud of, and now the judges will decide who takes home the various titles: Classic MO, Costume MO, Barely MO, Ginger MO, MO Sista and Group MO. Then, of course, the gong will sound, the crowd will fall silent (probably not, if you’ve been to any of these things), and the announcement of who takes home the coveted Man of Movember 2021 sash will resound through the air. After that, everyone openly weeps and asks for autographs, while the music resumes until closing time. So ends another hairy chapter until 2022!
Where does the MOney go?
Every penny raised by the MO Bros and Movember events is donated to the Cayman Islands Cancer Society, which helps fund men’s PSA testing and assists those financially who are suffering with cancer. Movember also supports the fight against men’s mental health issues, teaming up with the Health Services Authority and the Family Resource Centre on various projects.
| Dates and times of events are subject to change. Keep checking the website at Movember.ky and follow the organisation on Facebook at Facebook.com/MovemberCayman and Instagram @movembercayman.
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